TikTok Is Obsessed With This $3 Magic Shaving Powder, But Is It Safe?
Hair removal is such a pain in my butt. Anyone who opts to remove their own body hair will likely agree with me — waxing hurts like hell; shaving takes forever and causes way too many nicks and cuts, considering all that hair usually grows back in a couple of days. The alternative, of course, is a depilatory, a chemical hair remover that usually comes in a cream formula that you leave on for a few minutes, then wipe off. According to cosmetic chemist Ginger King, these hair removers work because of calcium thioglycolate, which "helps to break off hair the bond to achieve a depilatory effect."
Naturally, the beauty sleuths on TikTok claim to have found the best and most affordable depilatory out there: SoftSheen-Carson Magic Fragrant Shaving Powder. It's a scented white powder that costs around $3, depending on where you purchase it. As King points out, it's made with calcium thioglycolate, calcium carbonate, and calcium hydroxide — the same key ingredients used in most other depilatory creams. The key difference is that it comes in a powder formula that you must mix with water to activate.
Using it seems rather simple based on the product's provided instructions: mix with water, apply and let sit for five to seven minutes, then wipe off. Though this product is only meant to be used on the face (its packaging and labels clearly indicate this), TikTok users have been raving about its abilities to cut through body hair and leave soft, smooth skin in its wake – especially on the legs.
"I have never been so fucking smooth in my life," user @bootlegzendaya says in one TikTok. Another, "10/10 recommend if you have thin hair," writes user @madisonfullerr. Explore the hashtag #magicshavingpowder on the app and you'll find plenty more reviews just like this. A product this great surely can't cost that little — something's got to be wrong with it, right? To be sure, I asked a few dermatologists to weigh on the Magic Shaving Powder's safety and how it should be used.
The Magic Shaving Fragrant Powder has been a longtime favorite product of Black men, as Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Heather Woolery-Lloyd points out. That's probably because men with deeper skin can be more prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps, according to Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara.
"Pseudofolliculitis barbae [razor bumps], a condition commonly seen in brown-skin men that results from shaving, can be very frustrating for those who deal with it," she says. "Depilatories are certainly one potential solution; there are others as well."
Like King mentioned earlier, this depilatory powder contains a combination of calcium hydroxide, calcium thioglycolate, and calcium carbonate. She explains that the thioglycolate breaks down the hair for removal, the hydroxide controls the pH level of the product, and the carbonate absorbs moisture to achieve a closer shave.
While none of these ingredients are uncommon in chemical hair removers, they do pose a risk of skin irritation, according to San Diego board-certified dermatologist Melanie Palm. "Additionally, this product contains fragrance as well as other ingredients like cinnamon derivates and linalool, which can cause contact allergies of the skin," she adds. "Not good news."
Palm overall suggests sticking to drugstore formulas formulated for the arms and legs, like Nair and Veet — but if you're going to try the Magic Shaving Powder on your body anyway, do a patch test first. That especially goes for those of you with sensitive skin.
"Like on the face, a test spot is essential if using on the legs and arms," Woolery-Lloyd says. Gohara agrees: "Before using this powder or any depilatory, make sure to test it out," she advises. "The upper thigh near the buttock is a good area to test, as it is hidden if you do get a reaction."
And whatever you do, avoid applying it to the genitals at all costs. "The genital area has especially sensitive skin and the depilatory cream could easily burn mucosal skin," Woolery-Lloyd explains. "For this reason, the genital area is too sensitive and risky for a strong depilatory cream."
If you do patch tests on your legs and arms and have no negative reaction, proceed with caution and follow the product's instructions exactly when mixing and applying the Magic Shaving Powder to your face or body. "Repeated applications in a short period of time increase the risk of sensitivity, so it is important to wait at least 24 hours between applications," Woolery-Lloyd advises.
Additionally, be mindful not to apply the powder on underarms while you're wearing antiperspirant or deodorant. Don't use a razor until 36 hours post-removal. Don't use the depilatory after extended sun exposure and don't use it with alcohol-heavy products. But don't take these tips from us — you can take them from the product itself, as Woolery-Lloyd points out. "All of these recommendations are on the packaging," she says.
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